Folding table



July 6, 1937. c. FLAGSTAD 8 Y FOLDINGTABLE I Filed July 22, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 III,

INVENTOR.

CORNELL FL/IGSTHD A TTORNE Y.

C. F LAGSTAD July 6, 1937.

FOLDING TABLE Filed July 22, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. cam/5L1. FL 1765 T/ID A TTORNEY.

C. F LAGSTAD July 6, 1937.

FOLDING TABLE Filed July .22, 1955 4 Sheets-Shea? 4 INVENTOR.

CORNELL FL/765T/7Z7 A TTORNE Y.

Patented July 6, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLDING TABLE Cornell Flagstad, Minneapolis, Minn. Application July 22, 1935, Serial No. 32,509

V Claims. (o1. 311-80) This invention relates to folding tables particularly of the one piece top type used for card playing, and the primary object is to provide a folding leg structure for such a table that will 5 not only serve to support the table in either set up or collapsed condition, but is so designed that it will be efficient and practical in construction, comparatively simple and sturdy in design, and can be set up and folded together with a minimum amount of effort. Other and more specific objects will be disclosed in the following specification, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, wherein various forms of the invention are illustrated, and in which Fig. lis an elevation of a. preferred form of.

the table, as seen from one side thereof, and with fractional portions broken away for purpose of illustration.

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan elevation of the table shown in Fig. 1 in its collapsed condition and with the lower leg brace locks omitted.

Fig. 4 is an edge elevation of the table as seen from the left in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail section on the line 5-5 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a bottom perspective elevation of a modified form of table in partly collapsed condition, and with the bottom ends of the legs broken away.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail view of a modified form of latching cleat, as on the line 'l'l in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is an elevation corresponding to; Fig. 3

el'ing action of the table top.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail section on the line 99 in Fig. 8, but with the table top swung to its horizontal position.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail section of one of the primary leg framelocks used in the table of Fig. 8, and on the line lEL-Hl thereof,

Fig. 11 is an enlarged detail section through Referring to the drawings more particularly and by reference characters, A designates a table but showing a modified design permitting a swiv' top, and B and C respectively designate primary and secondary leg framestructures for supporting the top. The .top proper may be constructed in various designsbut is here shown as comprising a fiat upper sheet. M of wood, fibre or metal, and reinforced by marginal strips l5 and diagonally disposed crossed strips Hi, all secured. to the underside 'of sheet I 4, leaving the upper face smooth and level. The topis preferably of square form,although as indicated in Figs. 1', 3, m

4, 6, and 12, the corners. are shown as cut away to give a neater appearance and reduce the storage width space required when the table-is not in use. In Figs. 6 and '7 modified top and leg frame units are respectively designated as 15' Al, BI, and Cl; in the form shown in Figs. 8-11 they are designated as A2,'B2, and C2; and in the modification of Figs. 12 and 13 the .corresponding parts are designated by A3, B3, and C3. In the form of the invention as disclosed in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, the primary leg frame'B is made up of piping or tubular material, and comprises a horizontal cross bar H, the opposite ends of which have integral leg extensions Hi. The bar I! is pivotally secured to one of the 25 cross strips it of the table top by means of strap hinges l9, which permit the top to be swung from the horizontal position shown in Fig. 1 to v the vertical position indicated in Figs. 3 and 4. The lower ends of the legs iii are preferably spread out so as to give better floor support to the top corner portions thereabove.

Intermediate the lower and upperends of the frame legs "3' they are rigidly connected by a tubular cross bar 20, the ends of which are pref 35 I erably welded to the leg bars so as to rigidly and permanently connect them. The secondary leg frame C in the present. instance is made up of twosections which are pivotally connected with respect to each other and with respect to the horizontal bars I1 and 20 of the primaryleg frame, by pivot pins 2| and 22, respectively. These secondary leg frame sections each comprise a leg bar 23 of substantially the same formation as the legs 58, and the upper ends of these legs 23 have integral, horizontal extensions 24 which connect at the pivot pins 21!. Immediate- 1y adjacent to the cross b-ar 20, and in a h'cri zontal plane parallel therewith, the legs 23fare I provided with brace bars 25 which connect at 5 the pivot pin 22. V v

' The foregoing construction permits the two sectionsof the leg frame 0 to be moved into the full line position shown iri'Fig. 2, at which time they are at right angles with respect'to th'e leg I 7,

movement-of the braces on bar 20.

frame B, and to be swung from this normal or operative position into the inactive or collapsed condition indicated by the dotted lines 28 in Fig. 2.

To the end that the two leg frames may be folded into as small a space as possible, the cross bar 25! of the frame B is attached to one side of one of the legs l8, and to the opposite side of the other leg 58, thereby permitting the legs of the frame C to be moved into the same plane as that of the legs IE, it being understood that the legs 23 are slightly closer than the legs It so that they may move into position immediately within the limits of the latter, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

When the table is to be set up into operativeposition, the top A is first swung into its horizontal position, and the two sections of the leg frame C are then pulled out either singly or simultaneously to the right angular position indicated n Fig. 2, at which time they will be disposed directly under the cross strip 16, which is at right anglesto the other strip l6 directly above the leg frame B. In order that the two sections of the leg frame C may properly and rigidly support the top, and also be releasably secured in position so as to prevent accidental displacement, I provide a pair of latch devices designated generally by the letter D, and one of which is shown in detail in Fig. 5. Each of these. latch devices comprises a block or cleat 21, notched out to receive the adjacent cross strip l6, and rigidly secured under the table top. The block extends sufficiently below the strip I6 so as to span the vertical space between the strip and the frame bars 24 occasioned by the cross bar ll. And the blocks 2'! are so arranged that they rest directly upon the bars 24 to give a positive support for the parts of the top disposed laterally with respect to the vertical plane of the frame B. The blocks 27 are preferably provided with inclined edge surfaces 28 to guide the leg movements, and the leg bars 2 are releasably secured in their operative positions by engaging in a notch 29 of a lever 36 pivoted as at iii in a slot 32 of the block. A spring 33 tends to hold the latch 39 in frictional engagement with the frame bar 24, and a slot and pin arrangement 34 serves to limit the movement of the latch.

It will now be seen that when the leg frame bar 24 is moved into operative positionthe latch 30 will yield, under the action of the spring 33, to permit the bar to move into releasable engagement in the notch 29, but that the latch 30 will give sufficiently so as to not interfere with the direct supporting contact as between the block 21 and the frame bar 24. The outer end of the latch 30 is conveniently provided with a lateral extension or tongue 35 which can be pressed upwardly when it is desired to release the frame bar 2 3 from the notch 29, as when the table is to be collapsed and set away out of use.

As an additional means of interlocking and releasably bracing the leg frames, and this device may be used in any of the modifications shown, I provide (Figs. 1 and 2) a pair of right angularly bent, heavy wire braces 36 having loops or eyes 3'1 at their ends for. encircling the cross bar 20 at spaced points at opposite sides of the pivot pin 22, so that the braces may be swung toward and away from the bars 25 of leg frame'C. Collars 38 (Fig. 2) may be employed to prevent sliding Intermediate their ends the braces have integral U-shaped loops or jaws 39 adapted to snap down into inter- .require considerable less storage space.

locking relationship with the bars 25 to brace them with respect to the bar 20. These braces must of course be released before the leg frames can again be folded together.

In the modification shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the leg frame BI is identical with the previously described leg frame B, but the secondary leg frame Cl, in preference to being sectionally formed, is made in one solid integral unit, with upper and lower cross bars 48 and M which pivot to the bars ll and 20 as at 42 and 43, respectively. In this case the table top AI must be moved entirely into its horizontal position, before the leg frames can be unfolded; but when that position is reached the frame Cl is swung out to the right angular position with respect to the frame BI and is releasably secured by latch blocks DI which correspond generally to the blocks D but do not include any moving parts. Thus the blocks Di are rigidly attached to the under side of the tabletop Al and have notches 44 to receive opposite end portions of the cross bar 49. Projecting shoulders d5 adjacent the notches prevent the leg frame Ci from being swung beyond its normal supporting position. The parts are so arranged that when the frame Cl is moved into its operative position the bar 45 will snap into engagement in the notches 44, this releasable snapping engagement being effected by the resiliency of the table top proper. The notches M are sufficiently shallow so that when it is desired to fold up the table the bar 48 can be pulled laterally out of engagement with the notches.

In the table structure illustrated in Figs. 8 to 11, inclusive, the table top A2 is mountednot only for tilting action from'vertical to horizontal positions, as in the previously described forms, but also has a swiveling connection with respect to the leg frames so that it can be turned from the angular position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 8 to the full line position when it is to be stored, and in which condition it will of course To this end I provide the upper bar 46 of the primary frame B2 with a collar 5'! in which the bar may rotate, but which collar is in turn pivotally secured to a plate 58 as by a screw 29 so that the collar can turn on an axis perpendicular to the plane of the table top, the plate d8 being secured to the strips It as by screws or pins 50. The primary leg frame B2 further includes legs 5! and a lower cross bar 52 similar to the corresponding elements previously described in other forms of the table structure.

The secondary leg frame C2 may be of unitary One of the bracing strips I6 is provided at opposite sides of the plate 48 with a pair of spring clips 55 which open in opposite directions and are adapted to receive opposite ends of the frame bar 46 when the table top is turned into the angular position indicated by the dotted lines inFig. 8. When the table top A2 is then tilted to its horizontal position the sections of the secondary leg frame C2 can be pulled out to releasably engage a pair of latch devices D2, shown in detail in Figs. 9 and 11. Each of these latch devices comprises a wedge shaped block 56 secured to the table top adjacent opposite sides of the strip 16 which is at right angles to the strip which supports the clips 55. Each block 56 has a hook 51, preferably formed of strapped metal and secured upon the inclined face of the block 56 so as to guide the upper arms 58 of the secondary leg frame. The hook 5? is not necessarily a spring clip such as 55, but primarily constitutes a hook for receiving and limiting the swinging movement of the bar 58 which it is to receive. The bar 58 is releasably secured in the hook by a wire spring 59 which operates in a slot 60 in the block 56 where it is anchored by pins BI, and has a hump 62 which projects through a small slot 63 in the hook member 51.

In the modification shown in Figs. 12 and 13, the primary leg frame B3 comprises legs 64 rigidly connected by cross bars 55 and 55, and the secondary leg frame C3 includes legs 61 connected by upper and lower cross bars 68 and 69, which cross bars are respectively pivoted to the cross bars 65 and 56 as at T and ll. In this instance, however, the legs 64 are flattened at their upper ends, and pivotally connected as by pintles 12 to hinge brackets 73 secured to one of the table top strips I 6. In this case also the bar 65 of the primary frame is not disposed adjacent the strip IE, but is slightly spaced therefrom so that the secondary leg frame bar 58 will be disposed between the table top and the bar 65. When the top A3 is now turned to its horizontal position the secondary leg frame C3 can be swung to a position at right angles with respect to frame B3, at which time the bar 68 is moved into supporting position immediately under the cross strip l which is at right angles to the cross strip it that attaches to the leg frame B3. The under side of the table top is provided with a pair of spring hooks or catches 14 adapted to receive and releasably secure the secondary leg frame in its supporting position.

It is understood that suitable modifications may be made in the structure as disclosed, provided such modifications come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Having now therefore fully illustrated and described my invention, what I claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a folding table a substantially square top, a pair of intersecting leg frames pivotally connected and normally disposed in vertical planes diagonally under the top, means connect,-

ing the top to one of the frames and permitting tilting of the topinto a vertical plane in parallelism with such frame and permitting turning of the top'on an axis perpendicular to its plane, and means for releasably securing the frames and top in set up position, one of said frames being sectionally formed and pivotally connected to permit independent or simultaneous movement of the sections with respect tothe other frame.

2. In a folding table a substantially square top, a pair of intersecting leg frames pivotally connected and normally disposed in vertical planes diagonally under the top, means connecting the top to one of the frames and permitting tilting of the top on an axis in the plane of such frame and into a vertical plane parallel with the frame, and permitting turning'of the top on an axis perpendicular toits plane, means operative upon such turning of the top to releasably secure it to one of the frames, and other means for releasably securing the top with respect to the other frame. 7

3. A folding table comprising a top member, a pairof intersecting and pivotally connected leg frames for supporting the top member and disposed thereunder in vertical, intersecting planes, said frames each including a pair of leg members connected by a cross bar, and an angularly formed brace member pivotally secured at opposite ends to one leg frame and with an intermediate portion releasably engage able with the cross bar of the other leg frame.

4. A folding table comprising a top member, a pair of intersecting and pivotally connected leg frames for supporting the top member and disposed thereunder in vertical, intersecting planes, said frames each including a'pair .of leg members connected by a cross bar, and a brace member swingably secured at its ends to one of the leg frames and'having a U-shaped por-' CORNELL FLAGSTAD. 

